HMOs benefit from the highest rental yields – FACT

Recently I had a landlord contact me asking me to manage his “fully refurbished” property. On meeting him at the property, I can only describe what I was greeted with as utterly disgusting. I’d go so far as to call this property a slum. I can assure you that it felt really good to let […]
Finally, some real progress in tackling unfit rental properties

There seems to have been another round of legislative changes that have all come at once and this one tackles some of the unfit rental properties that are a curse on our industry. The Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 amends the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 to state that landlords must ensure their […]
99.4% of HMO applications are being approved but 72% of Councils are not enforcing license law

As you all know, my lettings company specialises in management of Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMO) so I always have a vested interest in the HMO market. In October last year, one of the most important legislations for HMOs changed; the mandatory HMO licensing rules removed the three storey rule (previously licensing applied to HMOs […]
Is the complexity of licensing going to drive landlords out?

I’ve just written an article on some license changes in Bexley which could considerably change the landscape of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) ownership in that area, which led me to thinking about the wider impact of licensing complexities for buy-to-let landlords. Currently Medway Council follow the prescribed licensing set out by the government; that […]
What does the interest rate rise mean for the rental market?

Incase you missed it, The Bank of England raised the base rate from 0.25% to 0.5% this week. The base rate is the Bank of England’s official borrowing rate, which influences what borrowers pay and savers earn. The base rate has remained fairly static over the last decade, with 0.25% being the lowest on record. […]
Stamp duty hike sees fall in supply and rising rents for quality Medway property

Rental prices are constantly in flux, and latest research by Countrywide shows that rent figures are on the rise, with average figures increasing from 1.1% to 2.2% between June and July. That rise brings to an end eight months of falling rental prices, going on what’s happening in the capital, where Countrywide’s figures focus. There’s […]